Saturday, 12 March 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The annual Cambridge Science Festival kicks off next week, and Saturday (19th) sees Sixth Doctor Colin Baker opening a special display event hosted by the Hyde Fundraisers. The actor will be on hand throughout the day to sign official photographs and trying out the greenscreen photo studio to help raise funds for Children in Need and other charities.
The Hyde Fundraisers will be running their charity display on both the Saturday and Sunday between 10:30am and and 4:30pm in the Pitt Building. The display will feature characters including The Host, a Smiler, a Sycorax and Sec Hybrid, along with sculpture demonstrations by member Ray Phillips. There will also be visits by Clockwork Droids, Judoon, Timelords, not to mention the Daleks and their creator!
Join the Hyde Fundraisers as they celebrate their 25th Anniversary Year with a special two day exhibition featuring classic characters and replica monsters from the new series of Doctor Who. Join the Judoon, catch up with K-9 and beware the Daleks, face the Vashta Nerada – count the shadows! Alongside these there will be plenty of other surprises as well as the chance to discover the science behind key themes in the show. Geronimo!
The Hyde Fundraisers are a voluntary organisation that raises funds for national charities and is now in its 25th year.
Admission is through a donation of £2 (£1 children).
The UK's National Space Centre in Leicester is holding a special charity event over the weekend 19th-20th March to celebrate British Science Fiction.
Guests at the event include Gerry Anderson(Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet) and Gareth Thomas(Blake's Seven), plus special effects duo Matt Irvine and Mike Tucker will be presenting talks and displays on their careers at the BBC Visual Effects Department, which of course covers Doctor Who. The press release also promises:
An amazing display of original props and costumes will be guarded over by an invasion force of Daleks, who are out in force to raise money for Children in Need… and you thought they had no heart!
Never fear though as the original K9 will be joining Doctor Who, Torchwood, Spooks and Primeval writer James Moran, for some cozy chats on writing science fiction.
Many other guests and activities are expected to take place over the course of the weekend - you can find full details via the National Space Centre.
Thursday, 10 March 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
France 4 have released the trailer for the series finale this coming Saturday, La Pandorica s'ouvre parts one and two, which airs from 8:35pm (local time).
SOIREE DR WHO, fin de la saison 5 ce samedi 13 mars 2011 sur France 4, via YouTube.
In a bumper evening of Doctor Who, the finale is followed by repeats of La bête des bas-fonds and La victoire des Daleks, then back to the start of series three with La Loi des Judoons and Peines d'amour Gagnées.
You can follow France 4 via their Facebook page and Twitter feed.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC America have announced in association with Entertainment Weekly that the sixth series of Doctor Who will be premiering in the United States on Saturday 23rd April, at 9pm EST (8pm Central).
Doctor Who is coming to America in a spectacular two-part season premiere on BBC AMERICA. Part One premieres Saturday, April 23 at 9/8c. The mysterious time traveler, the Doctor (Matt Smith), and his companions Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill), find themselves on a secret summons that takes them on an adventure from the desert in Utah - right to the Oval Office in 1969. More details will be revealed in the coming weeks about this two-parter penned by ‘Who supremo’ Steven Moffat (Sherlock) and featuring guest star Mark Sheppard (Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica). Also set to return this season, Alex Kingston (ER, Flash Forward), as the irrepressible River Song.
The BBC Press Office have yet to officially announce a date for the new series commencing in the United Kingdom, but Doctor Who Magazine has indicated that it will be over the Easter weekend.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine delves into this year's Comic Relief, with news of a special Red Nose-themed mini-adventure for the current TARDIS crew, plus in a new interview with David Tennant in which he reveals how he's getting funny for money.
Also in this issue:
Waiting for God:Toby Whithouse, writer of the forthcoming TV episode The God Complex, talks exclusively to DWM about his previous work on Doctor Who and Torchwood and tells us what’s in store for the TARDIS team in his latest script…
Steven Moffat said ‘The Doctor and Amy are trapped in a hotel and the geography keeps shifting.’ I said, ‘Oh yeah?’ He said, ‘No, that’s literally as far as we’ve got.’” Toby explains. “So that was the starting point. That one line. A lot of the ideas just fell into place...
Whatever happened to the Likely Lad?Andrew Smith was just a teenager when he wrote for the TV story Full Circle for Doctor Who in 1980 – but what became of him after that? DWM finally tracks Andrew down for an exclusive interview and finds out about his latest Doctor Who scripts…
Curb Your Enthusiasm:Doctor Who’s head writer and executive producer, Steven Moffat, reveals what his predecessor, Russell T Davies, has recently been emailing him about in PRODUCTION NOTES!
Men Behaving Badly: The Watcher proudly presents the ultimate guide to the Doctor’s arch-nemesis! Discover the secrets of every secret identity, every cunning disguise and every sinister incarnation of the Doctor’s most persistent foe in THE WATCHER’S GUIDE TO THE MASTER!
Gimme Gimme Gimme: Will one man’s greed cause the destruction of the human race? Find out, as THE FACT OF FICTION puts the colourful 1971 Third Doctor adventure The Claws of Axos under the microscope!
One Foot in the Grave: Amy dons a nurse’s outfit as she and the Doctor investigate a series of mysterious disappearances at an old folks’ home. But what lurks in the laundry closet? And who are the faceless children who come visiting after dark? Find out in a new comic strip, DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT, by Jonathan Morris with art by David A Roach!
Till Death Us Do Part: THE TIME TEAM unearth a curious tale of zombies and Charles Dickens, as their continuing mission leads them to Victorian Cardiff for the Ninth Doctor adventure The Unquiet Dead!
Absolutely Fabulous: DWM takes a nostalgic look back Series Three – a time when William Hartnell starred as the First Doctor in some of the most amazing adventures the show has ever seen – as the COUNTDOWN TO 50 continues…
Just Good Friends: Should Doctor Who celebrate its continuity? Or is it better to break with the past and have all-new adventures? DWM sparring partners, Toby Hadoke and Johnny Candon confront the controversy in A BATTLE OF WITS!
As Time Goes By: The much-anticipated fourth series of the Doctor Who audio spin-off, GALLIFREY, is out this month! DWM talks to the people responsible for the continuing adventures of Romana, Leela and K9, including Louise Jameson, Gary Russell and Scott Handcock.
Extras: A History of Doctor Who in a 100 Objects, The Six Faces of Delusion, Supporting Artist of the Month and much more – revel in the madness in the latest WOTCHA!
Plus, all the latest official news, previews, reviews, competitions, another prize-winning crossword, and much, much more!
Doctor Who Magazine 432 is on the shelves from Thursday 10th March.
The eighth week of production on Torchwood saw a couple of new guest stars join the show, which was mainly based at the Warner Brothers sets for the week, though the cast did get out and about at airy heights of the US Bank Tower and the subterranean depths of a ... parking garage! The end of the week also saw a publicity shoot for the show take place.
Cast name-checked this week included John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Bill Pullman, and Lauren Ambrose, though others of course worked throughout the week, including guest stars Christopher Thomas Howell(The Outsiders, Criminal Minds, Southland, The Amazing Spider Man) and Ernie Hudson(Ghostbusters, Desperate Housewives, Transformers Prime).
Writer John Fay was interviewed by the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday, during which he answered a number of questions about the new series:
How many eps? Just the one. Episode Nine of ten.
I can tell you a lot of my ep is set in Wales, and has already been shot.
Russell and Julie Gardner remain in charge, so I think it'll still have the same basic tone. There are more American characters in it, so obviously it'll probably feel more American.
(on Russell as a re-writer) Ep 2 of COE is all mine I think. He moved a bit of his ep 5 onto the back of my Ep 4, and wrote an extra scene between the PM and his adviser, but that was pretty much it. I can't speak for the new series yet because I haven't seen it. With RTD it's not a problem. Apart from anything else, he's a great writer and he's the boss. I have been re-written by some lesser writers in the past though. And that does piss you off!
Russell's been putting the arm on me to represent Torchwood at something called Kapow! in London. In ongoing discussions with Mrs Fay......
I keep getting a "what's your favourite Torchwood character box" flashing up on my screen and poor old Rhys is in last place on 0%! For the record - he's my favourite! So that breaks his duck!
We're also very pleased to be able to include one of Bill Pullman's own photos, taken during production on the new series.
This features both him and John Barrowman in costume as Oswald Danes and Captain Jack respectively, and has been provided to us courtesy of BillPullman.org.
Finally, another member of the cast who filmed earlier in the schedule was named by the After Elton website; actor Dillon Casey (pictured right with John Barrowman courtesy of Shawna Trpcic back in Week Five filming) is playing the character of Brad. Casey has recently been seen as Noah in The Vampire Diaries.
Times cited within reports below are in Los Angeles local time, except where indicated
Monday
Another week and another early start, for costume designer Shawna Trpcic, who later on discussed aspects of Captain Jack's new jacket:
06:20 Torchwood at 4:12 am. Funny thing is I woke up before my alarm. :-) now I'm yawning and eating too much trying to stay alert. :-) 06:23what is CJ coat Y u chose fabric? Wool w/ tiny bit of cashmere to keep it soft with goodBody. 11:29Thought JB was allergic to wool? Old Coat was cotton - the wool im using is thin and super soft no allergic reactions. 12:41costume was made of moleskin to simulate wool as JB allergic does it qualify as cotton? i suppose might b an UK/US word thing 19:59Can't wait to see our captain in NEW hero coat! I wonder if he wears the silver aeroplane cufflinks this series too? Yes!
Other Twitter-chat for the day included:
07:54 ST Ice cold but sunny & clear beautiful rained for 10hours during fri night shoot :-/ 09:02 AS Week 8 of Torchwood aka 80s revival week! 19:13 MC Abby singer! For those of you who don't know that means the second to the last shot is up. 19:19 MC Wrap 21:21 AS @trpcic lol Ralph? DWtS!!! That's amazing! Watching fo sho! 80s revival week rules! I'm so rocking legwarmers this week.
Tuesday
Back out and about, filming at two locations; a parking garage at 524 South Flower St, just around the corner from the major shoot at the US Bank Tower - the tallest building in Los Angeles! - and several photos from Shawna Trpcic and Michael Colbert showed off its views across the city!
Michael Colbert (via Twitpic) The view today. "Heroes" fans might note Kirby plaza where the orange thing is.
"TW-Spy!" today reveals John and Eve's comfy chairs, and an intriguing logo that promises "from better to best"! Meanwhile, the cast and crew go wobbly at the knees with guest star Ernie Hudson filming scenes alongside John Barrowman!
09:08 ST TV crews work sooooo hard we have units all over this morning have not stopped running and my crew are literary out of breath!! 09:47 MC Poop on a stick! It's only 9:45! 15:26 ST Publicity photos for Torchwood on the way Shooting this weekend with 7 members of the cast :-) 15:37 ST John said his undercover pants were a bit tight but he likes them. I told him Im famous for "Captain Tight Pants" gotta keep up tradition
Wednesday - Friday
Wednesday saw filming continue with two units, though it wasn't clear if this was back at the US Bank Tower or elsewhere; production was to return to the Warner Brothers lot for the rest of the week, though it would seem that adjacent activities would cause quite some excitement!
02 23:58 DC Shooting #y&r and #torchwood next week.... Busy busy. 02 21:58 AF Shooting #Torchwood back at good 'ol WB tomorrow. ^_^ | 02 22:28 ST I am soooo exhausted but gotta tell you working on torchwood is such a luv fest I am very happy two units today shopping and early fit in am 03 13:05 AF Having now read the latest script, I take that back! :D 03 15:41 AS Note: This is not Torchwood but J. Edgar is shooting on the lot near us. Looking for Leo! http://twitpic.com/45t09j 03 16:09 BBC Just spent a lovely afternoon with some of our fellow UK crew. We're also still floating on the Ernie Hudson cloud, the rumors are true. 03 17:15 JE It is almost all written, yes! All episodes but last one are in the pipeline at some stage. No word on next season yet. 03 17:56 ST Clint Eastwood and Leo dicaprio r here - squeeeel in amazing Hoover era costumes 03 21:01 ST Don't jump ship on us from Torchwood to a fancy movie set, please! Never! I have never giggled & blushed so much! Like teenage luv 04 16:08 AF More "Torchwood" (@ Warner Bros. Pictures) 04 17:39 BBC Eve Myles wants everyone to make her a promise, HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND! That seems manageable right? 04 17:39 AF Conan O'Brien and Leo DiCaprio are somewhere on this lot. When am I going to conveniently happen across them?? ;D 04 17:46 AF I realized that one of the two main Torchwood stages is right next door to Two and a Half Men. Ground 0 for recent Hollywood drama! :P 04 17:48 BBC Also, we're prepping for a photo shoot this Saturday. Publicity stills, can't wait! 04 19:51 ST All packed & prepared for first PR shoot w/ the cast. Yay!! Crew shooting into the weeee hours then up for Morning shoot. Pray all sleep well 04 23:17 BBC We've got Bill and Lauren on this late night of shooting. The lot is empty... Mission #2 - Private Party on the "Two and A Half Men" set! 05 01:25 BBC Mission #2, FAIL. We're having too much fun on our own set. Such a great cast and crew. Good Morning Everyone! 05 01:35 AF Yet another Happy Fraturday to all! ;)
Key to initials: AF - Allyson Floyd (stand-in); AS - Alana Stone (fashion designer); BBC - BBC Torchwood (production office); DC - Daryl Crittenden; JE - Jane Espenson (writer); MC - Michael Colbert (electrician); ST - Shawna Trpcic (costume designer)
Saturday saw press and publicity shots being taken for the show; this is believed to have taken place at the Willow Studios, which provide a number of standing sets (bars, restaurants, apartments) suitable for filming and photo-shoots! As Shawna Trpcicreports:
As soon as I'm allowed I'll link u to the photos. You all will be very happy they are the most SEXY PR photos I've seen. Torchwood ROCKS!!!
Week Nine kicks off with the cast and crew off to the seaside!
"Under the boardwalk, down by the sea, yeah On a blanket with my Torchwood is where I'll be" ...
A BBC Press release today has revealed that Piers Wenger, one of the excutive producers and creative influences of the Eleventh Doctor's era of Doctor Who, is stepping down as Head of Drama at BBC Wales. His successor in the role will be Faith Penhale, creative manager and executive producer at Kudus Film and Television(Spooks).
The release goes on to explain:
Piers Wenger, who joined BBC Wales in 2007 and, with Stephen Moffat and Beth Willis masterminded the latest regeneration of Doctor Who with Matt Smith, will continue in his role as creative leader of a range of key shows including the Doctor.
Wenger was responsible for the highly successful relaunch of Upstairs Downstairs as well as the extraordinary Eric And Ernie, which was the most successful drama on BBC Two for more than a decade. Having previously held the post as Head of Drama, he now wishes to focus more exclusively on the running of his existing slate of in-house shows as well as the creative development of individual projects, including Sir Tom Stoppard's forthcoming five-part adaptation of the Ford Madox Ford novel Parade's End for BBC Two.
Wenger went on to say:
I am absolutely thrilled for Wales that it has someone as brilliant and experienced as Faith to bring in the next generation of shows. The department has blazed a trail across a wide portfolio of in-house and indie shows in the last few years and it’s exciting for us all to have someone with Faith’s huge talent to build on their success.
The Wales on Sunday have reported an actress previously appearing in Doctor Who in the 1980s will be returning to the show, during a summary of cast seen filming last week alongside James Corden in the episode currently being shot by Steve Hughes:
Corden was joined on set in Cardiff by well-known British actress Lynda Baron, Karen Gillan, who plays assistant Amy Pond, and Arthur Darvill, who plays Rory Williams, plus two bus loads of shoppers and a baby.
Lynda Baron appeared in the Fifth Doctor story Enlightenment (1983) playing Captain Wrack, and also sang "The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon" that featured throughout the First Doctor story The Gunfighters (1966). Outside of Doctor Who she is probably best remembered as nurse Gladys Emmanuel in the Ronnie Barker sitcom Open All Hours.
Update 9th March: No official confirmation of Baron's casting has been made at present, but the actress has been seen on location.
The penultimate week of Doctor Who on France 4 saw Vincent et le Docteur and Le colocataire watched by 303,000 viewers, an improvement on last week and achieving a share of 1.4% of the total audience.
Danse avec les stars topped the ratings as always on TF1, though lost half a million viewers in total (4.80m, 23.6% share), probably to the successful Le plus grand cabaret du monde on France 2 (4.48m, 21%). A full breakdown can be found at Premiere.
Next week sees the finale of Series Five:
Le Pandorica s'ouvre (1/2) Les amis de Doctor Who lui envoient un message d’alerte : le Pandorica, qui est supposé abriter l’être le plus redouté du cosmos, est en train de s’ouvrir. Que contient-il réellement et Doctor Who va-t-il pouvoir y faire face ?
Le Pandorica s'ouvre (2/2) Doctor Who est parti, le TARDIS a été détruit et l’Univers est en train de s’écrouler. Seul espoir restant : une petite fille qui continue de rêver des étoiles.
2|Entertain have released a short video on their YouTube channel previewing The Final Curtain, a feature on the upcoming release of Planet of the Spiders, the final adventure of the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee).
Cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Jon Pertwee and Richard Franklin, producer / director Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks. More available on the Planet of the Spiders DVD
The DVD is currently expected to be released on DVD during April.
The annual Cambridge Science Festival kicks off next week, and Saturday (19th) sees Sixth Doctor Colin Baker opening a special display event hosted by the Hyde Fundraisers. The actor will be on hand throughout the day to sign official photographs and trying out the greenscreen photo studio to help raise funds for Children in Need and other charities.
The eighth week of production on Torchwood saw a couple of new guest stars 
Piers Wenger, who joined BBC Wales in 2007 and, with Stephen Moffat and Beth Willis masterminded the latest regeneration of Doctor Who with Matt Smith, will continue in his role as creative leader of a range of key shows including the Doctor.
The 
2|Entertain have released a short video on their 
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